Vestbee is constantly on the lookout for the most inspiring and influential women who are shaping the venture capital and startup scenes across Europe. We have already highlighted impactful female leaders from countries like France, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Norway, and Germany among others. Now, we are turning our focus to Switzerland.
Recent data reveals that the Swiss ecosystem mirrors the global gap seen in Europe regarding the percentage of women involved in venture capital and the funding of female-led startups. Thus, according to EY analysis, of the 1,090 founders who secured venture capital in 2023, 140 were women, making up 12.8% of the total.
In line with our mission to highlight the contributions of female entrepreneurs in the startup and VC ecosystem, Vestbee has brought together startup founders, co-founders, CEOs, CTOs, and Founding and Managing Partners from funds across Switzerland. To create this list, we relied on our comprehensive research on the country’s ecosystem, including articles about the top VC funds, the best startup accelerators and incubators, and data from Vestbee’s VC list, as well as DaaS platforms and open-source information.
Evelyne Pflugi, co-founder and CEO of The Singularity Group
Evelyne Pflugi is CEO of the Zurich-based investment advisory boutique The Singularity Group (TSG), which she founded in 2017. Evelyne's career spans positions at major asset managers in Switzerland and abroad such as Capital Research Global Investors in London, The Capital Group in Los Angeles or at GAM Investment Management in Zurich.
Anik Thaler, founder and CEO of Fabas Foods GmbH
Anik Thaler is the founder and CEO of Fabas Foods GmbH, a company aiming to revolutionize sustainable food production in Switzerland. The team is currently focused on creating innovative protein ingredients that serve as the foundation for product innovation in plant-based meat and dairy substitutes, having successfully launched a B2C brand in the Swiss market.
Nathalie Chemtob, Founding Partner at Alpana Ventures
Nathalie Chemtob is a founding partner at Alpana Ventures, a Swiss VC firm focusing on digital transformation. Before establishing Alpana, she gained experience as a Relationship Manager at J. Safra Sarasin Bank. In 2010, she also founded Pomery Capital, an asset management company offering portfolio management and consulting services to entrepreneur clients.
Christin Ter Braak Forstinger, co-founder and CEO of Chi Impact Capital
Christin Ter Braak Forstinger is a co-founder of Chi Impact Capital, an impact investment firm that focuses on deep social and environmental impact by investing directly in regenerative businesses. Christin is also the author of multiple articles and books, including her latest, titled Conscious Investing.
Carolin Steinmann, co-founder and COO of Constructor Capital AG
Carolin Steinmann is a General Partner, co-founder, and CFO/COO of Constructor Capital, a science-based global venture capital fund that invests in early-stage software and deep technology startups. She is also a board member of venture capital and private equity firms, as well as an independent advisor to alternative market funds.
Gina Domanig, Managing Partner and CEO at Emerald
Gina Domanig holds the position of Managing Partner and CEO at Emerald, a cleantech VC firm focused on climate change and sustainability. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Urgently, GeoDigital International, and Actnano.
Andrea Silberschmidt Buhofer, Managing Partner at EquityPitcher Ventures
Andrea Silberschmidt Buhofer is a Managing Partner at EquityPitcher Ventures, which assists early-stage companies with their proof of concept by leveraging its network of experts and investors.
Estella Langheim, growth investor at Lightrock
Estella Langheim serves as a growth investor at Lightrock, a global private equity platform that supports purpose-driven entrepreneurs tackling the world's challenges. The firm focuses on healthcare, education, the future of work, resource efficiency, sustainable food and agriculture, smart mobility, transforming finance, and digital business infrastructure.
Sandra Mueller, Founding Partner at Momenta
Sandra Mueller is a Founding Partner at Momenta, a firm that develops autonomous driving technology and is committed to transforming the mobility landscape by providing solutions that enable various degrees of driving autonomy.
Christine Schmitz, co-founder of Mountain Partners AG and Conny & Co.
Christine Schmitz co-founded Mountain Partners AG, a global multi-fund manager that acts as a holding company for a network of venture capital funds spanning three continents and a diversified investment portfolio. She is also a co-founder of Conny & Co., an international investment firm focused on creating tomorrow's unicorns by supporting young firms in high-growth areas.
Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch, Founding General Partner at Privilege Ventures
Jacqueline Ruedin Rüsch is a Founding General Partner at Privilege Ventures, a VC firm that invests in early-stage startups and is authorized as a venture capital asset manager by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. She was also listed in the Top 100 Most Influential Women in European Startup and Venture Capital for 2022-2023.
Angelica Morrone, General Partner at Privilege Ventures
Angelica Morrone is a General Partner at Privilege Ventures and has been an angel investor for the past two decades. Her investments reflect her commitment to accelerating transformative capital to create a positive legacy spanning generations.
Jennifer Webb, Investment Director at Swisscom
Jennifer Webb serves as an Investment Director at Swisscom, the venture capital arm of Swisscom AG, the leading telecommunications provider in Switzerland.
Anselma Woerner, CEO and founder at Exnaton
Anselma Woerner founded Exnaton, a software provider and ETH Zürich spin-off that creates platforms for the future energy market. The company is dedicated to fighting climate change.
Sandra Tobler, founder of Futurae Technologies AG
Sandra Tobler is the founder of Futurae Technologies AG, a company offering a user-friendly and secure platform for transaction confirmation and authentication.
Dr. Ulrike Pfreundt, co-founder and Co-CEO at RRREEEFS
Ulrike Pfreundt is a Co-Founder and Co-CEO at RRREEEFS, an ETH spinoff that uses a 3D-printed reef system to rethink, repair, and regenerate coral reefs. The lost three-dimensional framework of a damaged reef is recreated by a well-designed reef, restoring the services provided by the reef ecosystem, including fisheries, tourism, biodiversity, and coastal protection.
Kiran Dallenbach, Partner at BiomedVC
Kiran Dallenbach is a Partner at BiomedVC, an early-stage venture capital fund for the European biotech hub. The fund focuses on identifying outstanding scientific research and creating viable startups to provide patients with better medications.
Zulma Prieto, co-founder of Emilian
Zulma Prieto co-founded Emilian, a supplier of insurtech-as-a-service that aids in the digital distribution of insurance products by brokers and insurance firms. It helps these entities connect with any digital platform to optimize insurance distribution.
Dr. Luba Schoenig, co-founder of UMushroom
Dr. Luba Schoenig is a co-founder of UMushroom, a digital platform that guides people in making informed financial decisions.
Patrizia Laeri, CEO of ellexx
Patrizia Laeri is the CEO of ellexx, a platform and resource for women's money matters. She has also been listed as a Top Voice DACH in 2018, 2019, and 2022, and won the Digital Female Leader Award in 2019.
Nadine Juergensen, co-founder and COO of ellexx
Nadine Juergensen is a Co-Founder and COO of ellexx. She is also a journalist and lawyer, and since 2022, she has written a biweekly column for Das Magazin (Tages-Anzeiger).
Simone Zueger, co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at ellexx
Simone Zueger co-founded ellexx and is also a Swiss designer, artist, and entrepreneur who has been running her design studio in Zurich since 2015. In addition to her role at ellexx, Simone serves as a guest speaker at several universities in Switzerland and abroad and as a jury member for numerous events.
Alessia Schrepfer, co-founder of WeNurse AG & AS20
Alessia Schrepfer is a co-founder of WeNurse, a nursing staffing company that hires temporary workers for the Swiss healthcare industry, and AS20, a firm that develops future-oriented business models in the healthcare sector.
Fajer Mushtaq, CEO and co-founder of Oxyle
Fajer Mushtaq co-founded Oxyle, a company offering a cost-effective, long-term, and sustainable solution for addressing PFAS pollution. Oxyle's PFAS catalytic destruction technique completely removes all PFAS to below detection levels without producing secondary waste, thereby better equipping industrial and environmental remediation businesses to combat water pollution.
Nathalie Brandenberg, founder, CSO, and Board Member of Doppl
Nathalie Brandenberg is a founder, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), and Board Member of Doppl, a pioneer in the development of industry-standard organoids for personalized medicine and disease modeling. Doppl provides high-quality, scalable organoid models for joint preclinical drug development efforts.
Lea Miggiano, co-founder and CMO of Carvolution
Lea Miggiano co-founded Carvolution, the first automotive subscription service that offers consumers an easy, adaptable, and cost-effective alternative to purchasing or leasing a vehicle. Carvolution vehicles include comprehensive insurance, taxes, and tires in the monthly fixed fee, except for gasoline and charging.
Trudi Haemmerli, business angel investor and Vice Chairperson of the Board for Innosuisse
Trudi Haemmerli is an angel investor in the pharma, medtech, and ICT sectors, and as Vice Chairperson of the Board for Innosuisse. Innosuisse is the Swiss Innovation Agency that provides funding for science-based innovation to benefit businesses and the populace in Switzerland.
Hangama Wanner, founder and CEO of Sasit Lab
Hangama Wanner is the founder of Sasit Lab, a research center with over thirty scientists and specialists from various disciplines. The center is focused on building what is necessary for our future today. Additionally, she serves as Executive Chairperson of LiYF, a leader in 2G bioethanol technology that produces sustainable, clean, and efficient biofuel from agricultural waste.
Adrienne Perramond Wagnière, angel investor at Business Angels Switzerland
Adrienne Perramond Wagnière is an angel investor at Business Angels Switzerland, a network of individuals who offer their time and resources to support start-ups and small businesses with innovative ideas.
Sophie Neuhut, business angel investor at Rising Tide Europe
Sophie Neuhut is a private investor at Rising Tide Europe, an organization aimed at increasing the proportion of female decision-makers across industries by providing opportunities for women to succeed in both their personal and professional lives.
Laura Matter, co-founder of noii land
Laura Matter co-founded noii land, a Swiss dating app where users meet singles every week through live video speed dating.
Laura Lussi-Hilber, founder and CEO at GAIA Children
Laura Lussi-Hilber founded GAIA Children, a creative startup committed to revolutionizing the infant and toddler market.
Sabrina Schenardi, co-founder BLP Digital
Sabrina Schenardi is a co-founder of BLP Digital, an ETH spin-off automating document-based accounting and ERP operations with artificial intelligence. She is also a board member of WE SHAPE TECH, a global forum for increasing inclusion and diversity in innovation and technology.
Simona Fehlmann, co-founder of sallea
Simona Fehlmann co-founded sallea, a biotech research company creating scaffolds from a variety of materials with finely regulated pore sizes, shapes, and overall porosity.
Melanie Aregger, CEO & co-founder at Avelo
Melanie Aregger is the co-founder and CEO of Avelo, a startup with the goal of saving lives by enabling prompt and effective diagnosis of infectious diseases closer to the patient.
Anna Beltzung, co-founder and CTO at dimpora AG
Anna Beltzung is the CTO at dimpora AG, a company she co-founded that makes textile membranes possible with its revolutionary CoreLayer Technology, rendering materials entirely waterproof and breathable without harming the environment.
Sotiria Mostrou, founder and CEO at Biosimo Chemicals
Sotiria Mostrou founded Biosimo Chemicals, a startup focused on chemical engineering with the goal of creating systems to produce bio-based platform chemicals. Its clients include producers of chemicals, industrial goods, and consumer goods seeking to eliminate the use of oil-derived resources.
Olga Miler, co-founder and CEO of SmartPurse
Olga Miler is the CEO and co-founder of SmartPurse, a financial education and coaching resource that empowers women worldwide to achieve financial independence and confidence. She has also been listed in the Top 100 Women in Business and as a Top Voice on LinkedIn.
Laura Stocco, co-founder of Openversum
Laura Stocco co-founded Openversum, a technology and educational platform that helps produce and distribute innovative drinking water filters by local entrepreneurs. She has also been listed in Forbes 30 Under 30.
Daniela Morino, CEO of CUTISS
Daniela Morino is the CEO of CUTISS, a company specializing in regenerative medicine innovation. Its primary goal is to safely, effectively, and conveniently offer individualized skin tissue therapy to patients with major skin injuries and abnormalities.
Dominique Gruhl-Begin, CEO of Serpentine Ventures
Dominique Gruhl-Begin is the CEO of Serpentine Ventures, the Swiss Ventures Group's investing division. It builds and invests in tech-driven firms with outstanding entrepreneurial skills.
Beatrice Jacot, co-founder & investor at Aequaland
Beatrice Jacot is a co-founder, investor, and member of the board of directors at Aequaland, an impact-driven ed-tech company dedicated to creating meaningful games that inspire and nurture the game-changers of tomorrow.
Eugenie Nicoud, co-founder and COO at Helpany
Eugenie Nicoud co-founded Helpany, which offers a radar-based motion monitoring solution to improve fall prevention and care services in senior communities, enhancing safety and independence without intrusive cameras or microphones.
Sigrun Gudjonsdottir, founder at Sigrun
Sigrun Gudjonsdottir is an entrepreneur with extensive experience. She is the founder of Sigrun, a platform that supports women entrepreneurs in growing and scaling their businesses through comprehensive coaching programs and resources.
Marcela Durand, co-lead of Female Founders Switzerland
Marcela Durand is a co-lead of the Female Founders initiative in Switzerland, aimed at increasing the number of female entrepreneurs by offering support, resources, and a network of experienced coaches through programs like the FF+ Acceleration Program.
Merle Zur, co-lead of Female Founders Switzerland; Lead Programs & Partnerships at Impact Hub Zürich
Merle Zur is a co-lead of the Female Founders initiative in Switzerland and also serves as Lead Programs and Partnerships at Impact Hub Zürich, an organization dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs in Switzerland.
Arijana Walcott, founder & Managing Partner at DART Ventures
Arijana Walcott is a founder and managing partner at DART Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investing in early-stage technology companies that are poised to drive transformative change.
Olga Dubey, CEO at AgroSustain
Olga Dubey is the CEO of AgroSustain, an agritech company focused on developing natural solutions to reduce food waste and enhance the sustainability of agricultural practices. She also serves as a trainer and startup coach at VentureLab.
*Undoubtedly, the startup and VC ecosystem in Switzerland is powered by many inspiring and impactful women, which is why our list is not closed, and we appreciate every involvement! If anyone is missing from this collection, or anything is wrong, please drop us a line.
